ASPCA Condemns USDA’s Repeated Comments on Proposition 12 During Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC – In a hearing before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, Secretary Tom Vilsack of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) again delivered comments that inaccurately represented the impacts of California’s Proposition 12 and similar laws across the country that millions of voters have passed to prohibit the extreme confinement of farm animals, mirroring recent comments made during last week’s House Agriculture Committee hearing. In response, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) issued the following statement:

“It is alarming to see Secretary Vilsack double down on his inaccurate comments about Proposition 12, furthering industrial animal agriculture’s false narrative about the impact of basic laws that spare animals from cruel confinement in cages and crates,” said Kara Shannon, director of farm animal welfare policy for the ASPCA. “Fifteen states have implemented bans on the extreme confinement of farm animals, representing the will of millions of voters across the country, and as Senator Booker (D-N.J.) aptly pointed out in his line of questioning, this is not only a welfare issue—it's a democracy issue. We strongly condemn the Secretary’s comments suggesting Congress attempt to undo these critical laws, which is a transparent play to preserve factory farming’s status quo at the expense of farm animals, independent farmers, and voters.”

For more information about the ASPCA or to join the Advocacy Brigade, please visit www.aspca.org.